Kawomenan and Butterfly Release

Lepidoptera Farm in Gasan, Marinduque and possible GAD Project for Women, the Environment and climate Change

This is an exploratory assessment of the Marinduque State College Gender Advancement and Development Program from its inception in 2006 to the present 2011, they carried out a multifaceted program which involved women from the biggest community in the province. They introduced milkfish culture, instructional demonstration of grouper cage, fish pen for siganid, seaweeds production, food crop processing and ceramics skills training in Brgy. Balanacan, Mogpog, Marinduque. By 2009, a new GAD program emerged, MSC organized 7 communities in Boac to engage in vegetable production and founded a women-based organization, Samahan ng Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran (SAMA KA). In 2011, GAD broke new ground and expanded in Brgy. Malibago Torrijos to initiate chrysanthemum production along with a program for 15-selected Out-of-Youth to become brgy. agricultural technologists in 6 months. The study would provide the overview of the province of Marinduque, the research and extension thrusts of the Marinduque State College and guiding public policies such as Magna Carta for Women, Millennium Development Goals and MIMAROPA regional development framework. In the end, the paper problematizes the concept of kawomenan and the practice of gender advancement and development of the Marinduque State College, does the MSC GAD program really care for its public, in this case, women?

Among the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, an emergent butterfly capital could be found in Marinduque. A 4th class province 8 hours from Manila. You have to ride a bus and a ferry or you could just book a flight to Boracay and just drop by at the province. Among the 6 towns, Gasan is widely regarded as the butterfly capital of the Philippines. According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the small island province contributes 85% of Philippine’s butterfly and pupa exports. That’s about three-fourths of the butterfly breeders nationwide are based largely in Gasan and also other towns such as Boac and Mogpog. Mr. Butterfly, a local academician, Prof. Panchito Labay of the Marinduque State College emphasized that butterfly farming is a very young venture but is continually growing international industry with estimated 100 million pesos worth of exports. A cooperative butterfly farm, called Marinduque Lepidoptera Farms in Barangay Uno Gasan where the butterflies are so friendly. Mrs. Emer Sevilla, the person in charge of the butterfly cooperative, promotes butterfly release for women, the environment and climate change.